Oconee County Commissioners Name Planned New Park After Wendell And Betty Dawson

***Cite Service Of Couple To Nation, State, And County***

Oconee County’s planned new park on the 246 acre Land Application System site on Rocky Branch Road will be named the Wendell and Betty Dawson Park following action taken by the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night.

The Board passed a resolution naming the future park for the Dawsons early in the meeting, citing Wendell Dawson’s service to “his country, state and county in a long and honorable career” and stating that “his wife Betty Dawson has been a constant support and help in all of his service.”

COVID Case Counts In Northeast Health District Show Sharp Increase Over Last Two Weeks

***Oconee And Clarke Report Increases***

The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the Northeast Health District added 224 new cases of COVID-19 in the two weeks ending on Aug. 2, based on the Department’s electronic tracking system.

The Department of Public Heath did not issue a report last week, and the number of cases added in the  week ending on July 19 had been 63.

Oconee Board Of Education Votes To Approve Millage Rate Despite Criticism From Citizens

***Focus On Budget Surplus***

After hearing from 13 speakers who opposed the proposed 15.0 mill school property tax rate or at least the way the Board managed it, the Oconee County Board of Education adopted that rate unanimously on Monday evening.

Opponents focused on the 9.53 percent tax increase the rate represents, the way the Board handled the budget process, and questions about the need for the $34.8 million budget surplus in the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for Oconee County Schools.

Revised Oconee County Schools Budget Designed To Maintain $34.8 Million Budget Surplus

***Millage Rate Not Yet Approved By Board But Included In Mailer***

The Oconee County Board of Education and school administrators received a report on the size of the county’s tax digest in late June or early July, and they revised the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for Oconee County Schools sometime after that date.

The new budget shows a reduction of the millage rate to 15.0 from the 15.5 in the budget the Board passed on June 5.

Because of the exceptional growth in the tax digest, however, the 15.0 mills produces $2.1 million more in revenue from local property taxes than the original budget the Board approved.

Georgia Secretary Of State And Georgia Department Of Transportation Take Actions Affecting Oconee County

***Voter List, Bridge Posting***

Decisions by the Georgia Secretary of State Office and by the Georgia Department of Transportation last week have had reverberations in Oconee County.

Secretary Of State Brad Raffensperger announced on July 18 that he was sending a mailed notice to 677 registered Oconee County voters who have been on “inactive” status for two general elections and have failed to update their voting records within that time.

Oconee Commissioners Being Asked To Approve Requests For Two Gymnasiums

***Planning Commission Recommended Approval***

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday will hear requests from two petitioners, each seeking permission to build a gymnasium.

Core Blend Training LLC wants to change the conditions of an earlier rezone for 2.1 acres on Jamestown Road off Hog Mountain Road west of Butler’s Crossing to allow for an office building and a gymnasium.

State Planning Full Interchanges At McNutt Creek Road And Dials Mill Extension On SR 316

***Dials Mill Road To Be Closed At Highway***

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has changed its plans for the three western most SR 316 interchanges in Oconee County and is now proposing to build a full access interchange at McNutt Creek Road, to close access at Dials Mill Road, and to build a full access interchange at Dials Mill Extension.

Earlier plans had called for a full access interchange at Dials Mill Road and flyovers at McNutt Creek Road and Dials Mill Extension.